Harry Taylor lends some advice to kids and Josh Kennedy as AFL legends support East Fremantle skills clinic

Footy lovers both big and small gathered at the Geraldton Foreshore as a couple of AFL legends were on hand to lend their expertise and signatures to adoring fans.

Geraldton’s festival of footy is officially underway as East Fremantle hosted skills clinics at Stow Gardens and Mullewa on Saturday morning.

Players from East Fremantle and their development squad ran kids through some drills but for many, the highlight was a chance to rub shoulders with AFL royalty as Harry Taylor and Josh Kennedy lent their experience to those gathered at the foreshore.

Kennedy said the clinics were a great way to encourage the next generation.

“It was great East Fremantle have been able to put on a clinic here and out at Mullewa today and for the kids to have a kick with the players and have that connection with the zoning district, it’s been fantastic,” he said.

“For me and Harry to come down, we were kids once and coming to the clinics was always pretty fun, so it’s been great to give back.”

The clinic also served as a nice teaser for Kennedy’s return to footy on Sunday for Northampton against Towns at Wonthella Oval, which he admits he has some nerves about.

“I’m a bit nervous, Harry’s going on holiday tomorrow so I won’t be able to play with him, but it’s been good I’ve been able to train with Northampton a bit and haven’t been pulling up too sore,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to walk this week but I’ve been trying to get some tips off the big fella so should be good.”

Taylor did have some advice for Kennedy in his first game since retirement almost a year ago.

“Just to enjoy the experience, it’s very different football to what Josh would have been used to, for a long part of his footy career, but the enjoyment, the passion, those things are still the same,” Taylor said.

“You got a lot of guys who are just excited to be out there it’s a highlight of their week, football on a weekend you should never sort of get sick of seeing that passion.”

With Taylor on holiday and recovering from an abductor injury suffered during country week, it means the Rams do not have to worry about accommodating the two big men in the forward line.

“We would have probably would’ve got in each other’s way a bit. Josh is a much more natural forward than a clunky backman trying to play forward,” Taylor joked.

“But I think I would have tried to get up the ground and kick a few into him I’ve still got a long way to go when it comes to kicking goals and playing and forward.”

The pair also hinted the opportunity to play with each other will come sooner rather than later.

“Hopefully the back end of this year, just with scheduling and work, I’ll hopefully stick in a game and be able to play alongside each other,” Kennedy said

“There’s still a few games left this year, we’ll see what happens but we’ll get it done for sure,” Taylor added.